System and method for mobile device display and housing diagnostics

Abstract

There is presented a system and method for detecting mobile device fault conditions, particularly detecting defects in a display or housing of a mobile device. One or more cameras included within the mobile device are used with a reflecting surface in a test fixture to obtain properly aligned and formatted images of the external housing and display of the mobile device, and interactive guidance assists with placement and execution of diagnostics. A remote server conducts further analysis of the captured images, and then defect status may be returned to and displayed upon the mobile device screen.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A system for visually diagnosing a mobile device comprising:
 a test fixture comprising a fixturing platform mechanically coupled through a support member to a top cover including a reflecting surface; 
 a server configured to communicate with a provided mobile device; 
 wherein the memory of the mobile device includes instructions that when executed by the processor of the mobile device cause the mobile device to perform the steps of: 
 prompting the user to place the mobile device into the test fixture; 
 determining whether the mobile device is in an acceptable orientation with respect to the reflecting surface; 
 in response to detecting the mobile device is in an acceptable orientation, capturing an image of the mobile device as reflected from the reflective surface and formatting the captured image for transmission to the server for defect analysis. 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , wherein determining whether the mobile device is in an acceptable orientation with respect to the reflecting surface further includes:
 displaying on the mobile device a tracking fiducial and a placement guidance fiducial; 
 obtaining a tracking image of the mobile device from a camera of the mobile device; 
 locating, within the tracking image, an orientation of the mobile device; and 
 determining whether the located orientation is within a predetermined range. 
 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 1 , wherein displaying on the mobile device a tracking fiducial and a placement guidance fiducial further comprises displaying the tracking fiducial as:
 one or more QR codes; 
 one or more Aztec codes; 
 one or more ArUco codes; and 
 one or more graphical tracking elements. 
 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 1  wherein the reflecting surface comprises one or more of a mirror and a one-way mirror. 
     
     
       5. A method for visually diagnosing a mobile device comprising:
 prompting the user to place the mobile device into a test fixture comprising a fixturing platform having a reflective surface; 
 determining whether the mobile device has been placed on the fixturing platform in an acceptable orientation with respect to the reflective surface; 
 in response to detecting the mobile device is in an acceptable orientation, capturing an image of the device as reflected from the reflective surface; 
 analyzing the captured image to determine whether the captured image comprises one or more defect indicators; and 
 based on said analyzing, providing a cosmetic defect grading of the mobile device. 
 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5  wherein one or more defect indicators comprises one or more indications of: cracks, chips, fractures, mars, wear, scratches, abrasions, engravings, stuck pixels, dead pixels, color errors, color bleed, and errant markings. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 5  further including:
 detecting, through analyzing the captured image including a tracking fiducial, whether the mobile device is in a proper position with respect to the reflecting surface; 
 providing dynamic guidance through modifying a placement guidance fiducial displayed on the mobile device; 
 instructing a user with regard to placement of the mobile device on the fixturing platform; and 
 indicating, through the placement guidance fiducial, when the mobile device has been placed into a correct position with respect to the reflecting surface. 
 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 7 , wherein the tracking fiducial comprises:
 one or more QR codes; 
 one or more Aztec codes; 
 one or more ArUco codes; or 
 one or more graphical tracking elements. 
 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 5  wherein the reflecting surface comprises one or more of a mirror and a one-way mirror. 
     
     
       10. A system comprising:
 a test fixture including a fixturing platform mechanically coupled through a support member to a top cover including a reflecting surface, wherein the reflecting surface is positioned at a predetermined distance from the fixturing platform and disposed at a predetermined angle with respect to a top planar surface of the fixturing platform; 
 a server comprising:
 a server processor communicatively coupled to a database; 
 a server memory communicatively coupled to the server processor; 
 a server user interface communicatively coupled to the server processor; and 
 a communications interface coupled to the server processor and configured to communicate with a communications module of a provided mobile device wherein: 
 the provided mobile device comprises:
 a housing substantially enclosing the mobile device; 
 a mobile processor in communication with a mobile device memory; 
 a user interface including a display and a first camera in communication with the mobile processor; 
 a communications module in communication with the mobile processor and configured to communicate with the communications interface of the server; 
 
 
 
       wherein the memory of the mobile device includes instructions that when executed by the processor cause the mobile device to perform the steps of:
 prompting a user of the mobile device to initiate a test of one of the display or the housing of the mobile device; 
 presenting an image on the display that includes:
 a tracking fiducial; and 
 a placement guidance fiducial that includes an indicia of alignment; 
 
 performing a tracking calibration function to adjust the mobile device position and display for optimal image capture; 
 modifying a brightness setting and a camera sensitivity setting of the mobile device to optimize image capture; 
 determining that the mobile device is in an acceptable orientation with respect to the reflective surface, and thereupon: 
 capturing an image of the mobile device as reflected from the reflective surface; and 
 
       formatting the captured image for transmission to the server for defect analysis. 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 10  wherein the provided mobile device includes a second camera. 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 10  wherein the reflecting surface comprises one or more of a mirror and a one-way mirror. 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 10  wherein the server is communicatively coupled to the mobile device through one of a wired connection or a wireless connection. 
     
     
       14. The system of  claim 10  wherein:
 the memory of the mobile device and the processor is configured with software, that when executed, executes the steps of: 
 initiating a test alignment mode, wherein:
 the tracking fiducial is rendered on the display; and 
 the placement guidance fiducial is rendered on the display. 
 
 
     
     
       15. The system of  claim 10  wherein an image of the mobile device's view from the camera is rendered on the display. 
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 15  wherein an image from the front facing camera captures an image of the display of the mobile device; and a rear-facing camera captures an image of a back side surface of the housing of the mobile device. 
     
     
       17. The system of  claim 10  further including:
 detecting, through analyzing an image from the camera including the tracking fiducial, whether the mobile device is in a proper position with respect to the reflecting surface; 
 providing dynamic guidance through modifying the placement guidance fiducial; 
 instructing a user with regard to placement of the mobile device on the fixturing platform; and 
 indicating, through the placement guidance fiducial, when the mobile device has been placed into a correct position with respect to the reflecting surface. 
 
     
     
       18. The system of  claim 10  wherein:
 the fixturing platform includes an alignment guide. 
 
     
     
       19. The system of  claim 18  wherein the alignment guide comprises one or more of:
 an optical fiducial; 
 an illuminated fiducial; 
 one or more molded placement guides; and 
 an electronic display coupled to the test processor for displaying a placement fiducial and alignment information such as arrows. 
 
     
     
       20. The system of  claim 10  further comprising capturing an image of the mobile device from the first camera once the mobile device is properly placed on the fixturing platform. 
     
     
       21. The system of  claim 10  further comprising analyzing the captured image and diagnosing at least one state of the housing/display of the mobile device. 
     
     
       22. The system of  claim 10  further comprising analyzing, from the analyzed image, whether placement of the mobile device requires modification; and providing alternate placement guidance fiducials for further alignment. 
     
     
       23. The system of  claim 10  wherein the support element is selectable to change a distance between the reflecting surface and the fixturing platform. 
     
     
       24. The system of  claim 10  wherein the support member can be actuated to obtain a predetermined angle between the reflecting surface and the fixturing platform.